Print edition for September 30, 2000

Editorial: Children's health care goes unmet: The Children's Health Insurance Program was initiated three years ago to fill a gap in medical coverage for children of parents who don't make enough money to obtain insurance through a private company, yet at the same time make too much to qualify for coverage under the government's Medicaid program. In Nevada those families eligible for the program pay fees on a sliding scale. For example, a family of four earning between $28,000 and $32,000 pays a maximum of $200 per year for medical coverage, while dentist visits and prescriptions require a $5 co-payment.

Columnist Kate Maddox: V Bar will be V place to be: Kate Maddox; As Las Vegas steps into the realm of swank and sophistication, so, too, must the cocktail crowd. Enter V Bar, which come November will be the latest see-and-be-seen hangout on the Strip.

Mystic Tranz-former: Justin Tranz has been mesmerizing Las Vegas audiences for the past 11 months with his hypnotic humor, sharing the stage with members of the audience bold enough to surrender themselves to his power.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: The brass in politics: BEING WORRIED about the readiness of our military forces is nothing new for me. This column expressed concern prior to Desert Storm, and then immediately after that war, when the Bush White House began an almost immediate pullback from military expenditures. This was done with the help of a Democratic majority in Congress, and has been continued with a Republican majority doing the same for the Clinton White House.

Editorial: Abandoned homes more than eyesores: Sharon Segerblom, the city's Neighborhood Services director, says many of the buildings are owned by out-of-state mortgage holders and banks. These structures are nothing but trouble, straining city services since they're plagued by crime and fires. It's long overdue that the owners of abandoned buildings get the message that the city will no longer tolerate this blight.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Courts are blind to Duke's case: All Anya Duke really wanted was her day in court.

Letter: Racial labeling needs to stop: Why must we in America agonize over such labels? You can bet your Stars and Stripes that you'll never hear the words American-French, American-African or American-Japanese. Can't we all grow up with enough self-respect and confidence to be known by who we are and not where we come from?

Columnist Sandra Thompson: Book helps parents in custody cases: Sandra Thompson; RECENT national magazine articles and books have been examining the lasting effects of divorce on children. There is considerable debate on which is more harmful: staying in a bad marriage or getting a divorce.

Letter: Development of neighboring land inevitable: Being a longtime resident in Las Vegas, my first piece of advice to anyone is to get everything in writing. Looking ahead, finding a vacant piece of ground in this valley will be a thing of the past unless it belongs to the entities for a park. This is a big city now and the peace, tranquillity and clear view of the mountains you were expecting forever keep getting slimmer.

Letter: Ex-cons deserve right to vote: After they have served their time and paid their debt to society why are they being disenfranchised? Come on Nevada, leave the dark ages and get with it, change this stupid law!

CART leader De Ferran wins Houston pole: Mike Harris; HOUSTON - Gil de Ferran won the pole for the Houston Grand Prix, adding one precious point to his tenuous lead in the closest championship race in CART history.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Curing the ills of Nevada politics: LISTEN TO business types or commentators or even regular folks and you hear all manner of lamentations about the state of elected officialdom.

Ensign, Bernstein seek rare open Senate seat: In 1976, registered Democrat John Ensign cast his first vote in a presidential election for Jimmy Carter. Ed Bernstein, briefly a registered Republican, was trying to elect GOP candidate Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania to the Senate.

U.S. Census to deepen Northern, Southern division: This spring could bring a turning point in the slow numbers game that has pitted the North and South regions of Nevada against each other for decades.

Advocates: State ignores disability act: Advocates for institutionalized mentally and physically disabled Nevadans say the state has ignored a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gives such individuals the option to live in the community with proper medical consent.

Rebels stun Air Force: Steve Guiremand; The duo of Jason Thomas and Nate Turner combined for nine pass receptions totalling 102 yards Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium. But it was a play off the field that the pair combined for that pretty much summed up the night.

Foresters urge moderation in spending on fire suppression: Tom Gardner; RENO, Nev. - State foresters across the country say wildland fires are being fought largely by pouring money on the flames, and call for recognition by homeowners and others that government cannot afford to spend millions protecting houses worth thousands.

Conclusions of foresters' survey: Principal findings of the National Association of State Foresters' Forest Fire Protection Committee's Fire Resources Utilization subcommittee:

Scouting is helping others: Kris Hill; Cheryl Paulsen listened intently as an apologetic coroner spoke to her on the phone one Friday afternoon in August.

Singer back on stage after 3-month hiatus: Tom Gardner; RENO, Nev. - A jubilant LeAnn Rimes ended her health-imposed stage silence with a return to a concert schedule that was put on hold at the end of June because of a swollen right vocal cord.